Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

Proper preparation for your CAS request is essential to avoid delays or complications with your student visa application. Complete and accurate documentation minimizes the risk of issues such as visa refusals, missed deadlines, or the need to resubmit information. It not only ensures compliance with UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) requirements but also reflects your commitment to following necessary processes—significantly increasing the likelihood of a smooth and successful visa outcome. By preparing thoroughly, you can stay on track with deadlines and make the transition to studying in the UK as stress-free as possible.

Commonly Required Documents

To ensure your CAS request and visa application proceed smoothly, you will typically need to provide the following:

• Valid Passport: Must be current with sufficient blank pages for your visa.
• Academic Qualifications: Certificates or transcripts supporting your admission to the course.
• English Language Test Results (if applicable): You must provide a valid result from one of the Home Office's Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) at an approved test centre, or show evidence such as a GCSE, A Level, or Scottish equivalent in English language or literature obtained at a UK school while under the age of 18.
• Financial Evidence: Documents demonstrating your ability to cover tuition fees and living expenses. Scroll down to the "CAS Supporting Documents Guide" section for more details.
• TB Test Certificate (if applicable): Required if you’re applying from a country where tuberculosis screening is mandatory.
• ATAS Certificate (if applicable): Required if your course involves sensitive technology or subjects listed under the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS).
• Previous Visa Refusals (if applicable): All previous visa refusals from any country must be disclosed, with the corresponding refusal letter included as part of your CAS documentation. Additionally, a personal statement may be requested to provide context on changes in your circumstances and to demonstrate your preparedness for reapplication.

Please note that not all documents listed may be required for your individual circumstances.

By carefully organizing and double-checking your documents, you’ll save time, reduce stress, and increase your chances of a successful visa application. Always follow your university’s guidelines and stay updated with the latest UKVI requirements.

Submitting your CAS request via OSIS as early as possible is essential for ensuring a smooth and timely visa application process. Early submission helps prevent potential delays and allows you sufficient time to prepare your supporting documents, schedule your visa appointment, and make necessary travel arrangements.

Taking prompt action will help you stay on track and focus on the most important part - preparing for your studies and the journey ahead.

Below is a video demonstration on how to submit your CAS request via OSIS. We hope you find it clear and helpful.

Technical support

If you are unable to log in to OSIS using your username and/or password, please contact the University’s IT Service Desk for assistance.

When submitting your enquiry, please include the following information:

• Your full name
• Your Kingston Student ID number
• A clear description of the issue you are experiencing

You can log your enquiry or reach the IT Services Team directly via our contact page.

You will be required to upload your supporting documents to OSIS. 

Accepted file formats include: DOC·;DOCX·;GIF·;HTM·;HTML·;JPEG·;JPG·;MSG·;PDF·;RAR·;ZIP·;PNG.

Uploading Supporting Documents After Submitting Your CAS Request

If you need to upload or re-submit supporting documents after your CAS request has been submitted, you can do so via OSIS.

To upload your documents:

1. Log in to OSIS.
2. Use the tabs at the top of the screen to navigate to the ‘Your Visa’ page.
3. Select ‘Upload supporting documents’.

A step-by-step help guide is also available on the ‘Your Visa’ page to assist you with the upload process.

Once your draft CAS is ready, you will receive an email notification prompting you to review and verify the information provided. It is essential that you check all details carefully.

If you have any questions or require amendments, please ensure these are submitted before confirming the draft. Once the official CAS has been issued, no further changes can be made.

Receiving a draft CAS does not guarantee that the final CAS will be issued immediately. In some cases, the draft CAS may be provided while we complete checks on other required documents or verify outstanding information. This process allows us to save time and streamline the issuance of your CAS once all pending checks are finalized.

The final CAS will only be issued once all required steps and document reviews have been successfully completed.

Once issued, updates to CAS details are strictly limited by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). The only permitted amendment at this stage is updating the amount of tuition fees paid to date. If a minor error - such as a spelling mistake in a name is identified, a sponsor note can be added to the CAS record to correct the issue without reissuing the CAS, ensuring no impact on your visa application.

However, if two or more errors are found in the final CAS, UKVI requires a full CAS reissue, as multiple inaccuracies may affect the integrity of your application.

To avoid delays, carefully review your draft CAS and notify us of any necessary corrections before confirming its accuracy. Taking the time to verify your details now will help ensure a smooth visa application process.

All postgraduate taught (Master’s) applicants—excluding Masters by Research (MPhil/PhD)—who require a Student Visa must pay a non-refundable deposit of £5,000 within 21 working days of receiving their unconditional offer. This deposit must be paid before requesting a CAS and will be applied toward the first instalment of tuition fees.

The payment will be recorded on the CAS letter under the 'Fees paid to date' section. When submitting financial documents for your visa application, the amount already paid can be deducted from the total funds required

You are exempt from this deposit if you provide evidence that an official financial sponsor or student loan covers your first-year tuition fees and full living expenses (£13,347).

Please note that if your scholarship or loan does not fully cover the fees required for your visa application, the deposit will still be necessary. It will contribute toward the total funds needed for your application.

How to pay your deposit

To proceed with your deposit payment and secure your place, please our payment options page.

Prompt payment will help ensure there are no delays in processing your CAS request.

If you are applying for a UK visa to stay for more than six months, you may need to take a tuberculosis (TB) test before submitting your application. This requirement applies if you have lived in a country where TB is considered common. It is part of the UK Home Office’s efforts to protect public health.

Who Needs to Take a TB Test?

You must take a TB test if:

• You are applying for a visa for more than six months and
• You have lived in a country where TB testing is required

You do not need to take a TB test if:

• You are applying for a visa for six months or less
• You have lived for at least six months in a country not on the UK’s TB testing list and have not been away from that country for more than six months

How to Take the TB Test

• The test must be done at a UK government-approved clinic
• If your result is clear, you will be issued a TB certificate

Important Information

• When applying for a UK visa, you must provide a valid TB test certificate issued within six months before your application date. The application date refers to the day you submit your UK visa application form online and pay any applicable fees.
• Please note that TB test certificates are only valid for six months from the date of issuance. Plan your clinic appointment carefully, considering the time needed to schedule, complete the test, and travel to an approved clinic.

The ATAS is a UK government requirement for international students applying for certain postgraduate courses in sensitive subject areas. It aims to prevent the transfer of knowledge that could be used in the development of weapons of mass destruction or for military purposes.

If ATAS clearance applies to your course, this requirement will be stated in your offer letter. You must obtain an ATAS certificate before submitting your UK visa application.

The application process involves providing personal details and information about the course you intend to study. Once approved, you will receive an ATAS certificate, which is a mandatory document for your visa application.

Important Information

• Timing: You can submit an ATAS application as soon as you receive your offer letter. Processing takes a minimum of 30 working days (6 weeks), and complex applications may take longer. There is no fast-track service. Demand is higher from April to August, which may extend processing times.
• Refusal: If your ATA application is denied, you will not be able to proceed with your visa application.
• Changes: If there are any changes to your course or personal details after receiving your ATAS certificate, you may need to submit a new application.

If you have held UK immigration permission for at least 12 months on the date you apply for your Student visa from within the UK, you automatically meet the financial requirement and do not need to provide financial evidence. This does not apply to those who were previously exempt from immigration control. Short absences and holidays do not affect the 12-month period, but long absences (e.g. 3 months or more) may mean the requirement is not met.

All Student Union Sabbatical Officer and Postgraduate doctor or dentist applicants who apply under the Student route automatically meet the financial requirement, without the need to provide evidence, whether they are applying for entry clearance or permission to stay, and no matter how long they have lived in the UK.

You do not need to prove you have enough money to support yourself if you are from a country listed in the differential evidence requirement.

If you are eligible, you will not need to submit financial evidence as part of your CAS request. However, you must still obtain and keep proof of your finances, as UKVI may request to review it during the decision-making process. Failure to provide the required documents within the specified timeframe may lead to the refusal of your application.

Additionally, you must submit any other necessary documents, such as an ATAS certificate or TB test certificate, unless you qualify for an exemption.

The total funds required for your application include:

• Your first-year course fees
• £13,347 for maintenance (living expenses)
• An additional £300 to account for potential currency fluctuations

These funds must be held in full for a continuous 28-day period, and the balance must not fall below the required total at any point during that time.

You may wish to pay some of your tuition fees or halls of residence fees in advance. The following pre-payments can be confirmed on your CAS:

• Up to 100% of your tuition fees.
• Up to £1,483 of your halls of residence fees (you may pay more, but this is the maximum that can be confirmed on your CAS).

Please note: If you make a pre-payment before requesting your CAS, the amount will be deducted from the total financial requirement you need to demonstrate in your financial documents.

Funds may be held in any form of personal bank or building society account (including current, deposit, savings, pension from which the funds can be withdrawn or investment account) provided the account allows the funds to be accessed immediately.

Funds held in other accounts or financial instruments such as shares, bonds, credit cards, pensions from which the funds cannot be withdrawn immediately, regardless of notice period, will not be accepted as evidence of funds.

Accepted forms of financial evidence include:

• Bank statements (including electronic statements)
• Building society passbooks
• A letter from the financial institution
• Certificates of deposit

The most recently dated financial document must be no older than 31 days before the date of application.

The account must be in the name of one of the following:

• the applicant, either alone or as a joint account holder
• the applicant's parent or legal guardian
• the applicant's partner if the partner has been granted permission or is applying at the same time as the applicant

If you are using an account in the name of your parent or legal guardian must provide that parent's or legal guardian's written consent to use of the funds and evidence of the relationship.

Financial sponsorship must be provided by one of the following:

• His Majesty’s Government
• The applicant’s national government
• The British Council
• An international organisation
• An international company
• A university or Independent School

UKVI accepts student loans issued by:

• A government
• A government-sponsored student loan company
• An academic or educational loan scheme regulated by:
  The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
  The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)
  The relevant official regulatory body in the country where the institution is based and the funds are held

If you are relying on a student loan, you must provide a student loan letter from the lender as evidence. The letter must meet the following criteria:

1. It is dated no more than six months prior to the application date.
2. It confirms the loan is a student loan provided by:
   The relevant government,
   A government-sponsored student loan company, or
   An academic or educational loan scheme.
3. It states there are no conditions on the release of the loan funds other than successfully applying to study in the UK as a Student or Child Student.
4. It specifies the loan amount.
5. It confirms the loan is issued to you (the applicant).
6. It confirms the funds will either:
   Be available to you before traveling to the UK,
   Be paid directly to your student sponsor before traveling, with any living cost portion made available to you upon arrival in the UK, or
   Be available before your course begins, if the loan is provided by your national government.

Where any specified documents provided are not in English or Welsh, the applicant must provide the version in the original language and a full translation that can be independently verified by UKVI officials. The translation must:

• Confirm it is an accurate translation of the original document
• Include the translator’s full name, signature, and contact details
• Be dated 

The Bank Contact Details Form is required as part of the CAS request process to verify the authenticity of the financial documentation provided. This ensures that the funds meet the UKVI requirements and are held in a legitimate bank account, supporting a smooth and compliant CAS application. The form can be downloaded here or accessed via the OSIS platform.

The credibility interview is an important component of the student visa application process. Its purpose is to assess whether you meet the requirements to study in the UK and to confirm your genuine intent as a student.

To prepare effectively, it is important to understand the scope of the interview. You should be ready to discuss your chosen course, your university, and how studying in the UK aligns with your academic and career aspirations. Familiarity with your financial arrangements and the documentation supporting your application is also essential.

Ensuring you can provide clear, thoughtful, and honest answers will help the process go smoothly. Additionally, being organized, professional, and well-prepared will demonstrate your readiness for this stage of the visa process.

If you require further support, please contact our experienced and friendly team for assistance.

Your personal data will be handled in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).  

All information provided will be used exclusively for the purpose of supporting your visa application and will not be shared with any third parties outside of this process.  

More information about KU data protection can be found on our privacy page.

The deposit for your student visa is not normally refundable. However, the deposit can be held if you need to defer your place.

Refunds are considered at the University's sole discretion. Your deposit will only be refunded if you don't receive your student visa for reasons we consider are beyond your control. You will also need to provide us with sufficient documentary evidence.

Refund requests need to be made within 15 days of the event which has given rise to the issue. If a series of events has occurred, the refund request needs to be made within 15 days of the final event in the series. Complaints will only be considered outside this timeframe in exceptional circumstances. For more details, view our Student Complaint Procedure.

Your dependant does not require a CAS. However, when you make a CAS request, you need to show you have enough funds for your dependants.

Your dependant needs to be able to support themselves. As Kingston University is based in London, they must have £845 a month (for up to 9 months).

To find out more about how much money your dependent(s) will require, visit the Home Office’s Student visa family members page.

For more information on bringing dependants to the UK, see 'Bringing dependants to the UK' on our Pre-arrival Information webpage.

If you are a Kingston University alumnus, you will receive an invoice for the full course fee. The discount is applied as a credit to the invoice shortly after your enrolment. You will receive a separate credit note via email.

Find out more on our alumni page.

The issuing of a CAS is at the University's discretion. We reserve the right not to issue a CAS under certain circumstances. This includes:

• Insufficient time to make a successful student visa application
• Unlikely to arrive before the latest course start date
• Incorrect or insufficient funds to meet the requirements
• If documents submitted are deemed to be fraudulent
• CAS request is submitted after the latest course start date deadline
• Student has exceeded (or will exceed by the end of their course) the maximum time allowed on a student visa.

Students intending to study a certain science or engineering postgraduate level (RQF7) will need to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate. If this applies to your course, it will be stated in your offer letter. 

You can apply for an ATAS certificate up to nine months before the start date of your course. For more guidance, find out how to apply for an ATAS certificate.

A Tuberculosis (TB) medical certificate is required if you are coming to the UK for more than six months and are a resident of one of the countries listed on the UK Government's Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants web-page. 

You must be tested at an approved UKVI clinic. Some countries don't have approved testing centres so you will need to get tested in a neighbouring country. 

If you would usually require a TB certificate but have resided in a country for at least six months that does not require a TB certificate, you will be exempt from this requirement. You must upload a written explanation of your circumstances with any relevant residence permits.

• Insufficient time to make a successful student visa application
• Unlikely to arrive before the latest course start date
• Incorrect or insufficient funds to meet the requirements
• Not have the required maintenance funds
• If documents submitted are deemed to be fraudulent
• CAS request is submitted after the latest course start date deadline
• Student has exceeded (or will exceed by the end of their course) the maximum time allowed on a student visa

• A CAS is only valid for six months from the date it is issued.
• When you make your student visa application you must include all original documents stated on your CAS, where required (low-risk nationals do not need to submit original documents). Failure to do so could result in a visa refusal.
• If you are applying for your student visa from inside the UK your course must start within 28 days of your current visa expiry date.
• If your current visa is due to expire soon or has expired then you should contact the CAS team urgently.